Archive for July, 2013

Congress and its foot in the mouth disease
Digvijaya Singh is a real liability to the Congress. Because of his utterances the Congress is going to lose a chunk of votes. He contradicts himself and at times puts his foot in his mouth. When it becomes inconvenient to the Congress then it has one simple solution to distance itself from what he says-then it becomes his personal remark or statement. Now this cannot be because Digvijaya Singh is one of the General Secretaries of the Congress. So when he uses the plural like ‘we’ and ‘us’ then it means the Congress.Otherwise he has to preamble his statements and declare that what he says is in his personal capacity if he has one. Just see what he stated a couple of days ago, ‘For us secularism means one religion, one country and one culture but we do not know what exactly is the BJP’s definition of it’ By this Diggy has clearly positioned himself as the General Secretary to utter this. So for the Congress secularism means one religion. May I ask which religion? For that matter secularism as I understand has no religion or encompasses all religions. But to say that secularism means one religion Diggy must clarify which religion he meant. He proceeds to state that it also means one country and one culture. I thought that there is no one culture in India. It is a multicultural country. Again he should clarify which culture he refers to. So if he says that ‘for us secularism is one religion,one culture and one country’ then it is fascism.The very next day Digvijaya Singh takes all the trouble to project himself as a devote Hindu and goes at length to describe all the rites and rituals he practices. Why this sudden enlightenment. Was it the fear of losing the Hindu votes while he having been always heading appeasement policy and going soft on the terrorists? He even wants us to be his guest and check. There is no need because we know what Digvijaya stands for and what he is. He has to understand himself and be fair and square to himself and his conscience.
I would agree with Dr Subramaniam Swamy that Modi has made performing monkeys out of the Congress spokespersons… ‘They swing from channel to channel screaming’ .Well I hope Dr Swamy checked that no community especially minority community denotes ‘monkeys.’ Screaming is the specialty of the Congress’ loudmouthed and in the process they not only bluster and blabber but also fail miserable to focus on the point. They take umbrage on the usage of ‘burqa’. As though it is an offence. It only denotes to a veil which one uses to hid one’s face. That a community uses it does not make it derogatory.
The point is the Congress has lost its legitimacy to govern.It does not have any substance to argue or put forth its case hence it grabs at these insignificant points-make them sound significant and gives it a communal coloring. It is seeped in communalism and hence sees only that. If Modi‘s rally collects Rs 5 per person to attend It is a good venture and a good index to know how many are really keen in listening to him. On the other hand the Congress mobilizes its crowds by giving them free bus rides-per head an amount to gather a crowd. So it they demand even one rupee for Sonia and Rahul’s rallies the grounds will be empty. This it knows very well. Because the Congress is fully aware of the huge amounts it spends to get the crowd. Knowing this well it again grabs on this Rs 5 collection and Manish Tiwari with a smirk on his face tells us that Cinema ticket even for box office flops is Rs 500. Ticket to hear a Chief Minister Rs 5.Market discovers true value he says. Should we not congratulate Tiwari for his genius? This kind of scoring petty brownie points is all that the Congress spokespersons can do. I challenge the Congress to restrict its crowd mobilizing by even allowing persons with a 50 paisa to listen to Mrs Sonia’s draft reading and Rahul Gandhi’s foot in the mouth statements. The Congressmen would have to themselves buy the tokens and distribute.The grounds will be still empty. That is the state of affairs for this Congress which is insensitive to the country and her people. So Digvijaya will have to prove his being a true Hindu and Manish Tiwari must prove that even for one rupee token there will be crowds to listen to Mrs Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
When that is the real state of affairs why are they picking at these insignificant issues because they want to hide from the real issues of complete failure-nothing to boast of or put forth as their achievements. The Scams the Himalayan corruptions, the slide down of the rupee, the economy in shambles under the great economist of a PM-the inability to contain terrorism, the inability to talk tough to China and regain our territory, the utter failure in the Kashmir Valley, the rehabilitation scheme under which terrorists have been rehabilitated and brought into Kashmir-these and more .The price line and inflation has hit all time levels. Even the middle class and all sections of the people except the Reliances,Mittals and the political netas have not been affected Who is bothered about these.Can the Congress justify its governance/non governance?It is not only that the Congressmen and women swing from channel to channel they also have become suddenly active with their pens.
This brings me to the article of Kapil Sibal’s in the OP-ED pageIE dated 16th July. ‘Here’s listening to you,Mr Modi’.Now here is it to you Mr Sibal.Lets start with the last and the core of your whole flippant write up.I do not want to digress with puppies and the analogy of car and driver etc.But I do want to remind Mr Sibal that he belongs to the party which mercilessly butchered a minority community. What would a man with the minimum of responsibility do-I am referring to Rajiv Gandhi.He simply sat back and allowed the pogrom.So belonging to that party and calling Rajiv Gandhi his leader Sibal has lost the right to talk of puppies and justice etc. Where was justice even after 29 years for those who were butchered? What did the Congress leadership do? It rewarded the leaders who instigated and led the pogrom. Now what right has Sibal and the Congress to be so critical on the Gujarat riots? Did it see that quick justice was wrought for the hapless victims? Or at every stage did it not block and delay justice?
Let me go into the secularism. Modi said that secularism for the BJP is ‘Justice for all, Appeasement to none”. This is the basis of our Constitution. Equality –irrespective of caste and creed One cannot have justice when one treats people differently on the basis of one’s religion. “India first should reflect the emotion of every patriot. Modi is right when he emphatically stresses this. Sibal goes in circles-He is fixed at the Gujarat riots as though it was the first and only riot in India. Justice need not be defined only in the context of Gujarat riots.And even if one does it no ways hurts Modi because he did all that he could do and in no way hindered and hampered Justice because he is not in charge of the CBI.On the other hand the Congress is and was and hence hindered and hampered justice in the Sikh pogrom. So what right has Sibal then to describe and define justice in the context of the Gujarat riots.What Modi said is true because in riots or in peace time Justice to all is the hallmark of a patriot.
Oh yes Modi does understand the distinction between patriotism and nationalism and that is exactly why he proceeds to call himself one because he is a Hindu nationalist. He was born a hindu. He did not add the word ‘because’ as Sibal said.It is Sibal who cannot distinguish the difference between patriotism and nationalism. Sibal is right that one can belong to any religion and be an anti-national. But only a nationalist can be a patriot. But the difference is you will not be able to even get some persons in this country say that. To be a nationalist is to be patriot. Modi did not say that one must be a born Hindu to be a nationalist. He simply stated the truth. That he is a born Hindu and that he is a nationalist. A good Hindu will speak the truth and uphold the truth. This is not pride and standing by this does not make Modi lack humility as Sibal says. Nationalism is pride and devotion to one’s country. Here there is a catch someone born in some other country cannot easily say this. Also there must be a strong sense of national identity. I cannot be born in Italy or Spain and claim this. Because if my ancestral house is in Spain and I am not born of Indian parentage then my national identity will not be India and Indian.
Coming to patriotism a thin line divides the two. One who is a nationalist is also a patriot because such a person loves and defends his/her country and all that it holds. Can every Indian say this? No, Modi can because that is what he is. Nationalism has a strong sense of identity. You can have this only if you are born an Indian. It cannot be given as a certificate. A patriot loves and supports and defends his/her country. So nationalism and patriotism-the two are the two sides of the same coin. Modi was right and whether he said it in humility or in pride this is truth and I hope every one of us who has this patriotism and nationalism will hold one’s head high and say it with pride. Where does the question of humility come? Mr Sibal thinks that my being coy and shy and not sure of what to say and one is humble.
The point is Modi makes no qualms. He does not mutter and mumble-he calls a spade a spade and is sure of himself. One would like to see these attributes in leaders. Clarity of though-clear vision and in unambiguous terms state what has to be stated. Is this pride or is this clarity of a thought process with a vision? This is the kind of leadership we need for India. Not one dithering and not one who is attached to the remote control or tied to the apron strings of another. Not one who rolls up one’s sleeves and mutters sweet nothings Not one who cannot distinguish between rural and urban and the processes of these.
It is easy to pick at Modi because Modi sends down the shivers. First and last let the Congress redeem itself of the pogrom of the Sikhs. Here in Gujarat it was a riot. In which both Muslims and Hindus were killed. Yes Muslims more in numbers but it was also a backlash of the train carnage of 59 Hindus who were roasted and charred to death.This is not to justify any thing but to remind the Congress and people like Mr Sibal that when you sit in a glass house do not throw stones at others because it is foolishness and madness.and self destructive.
Dr Mrs Hilda Raja,
Vadodara,Gijarat

Modi and Development
I have been following the debate and discussions between some of my mailers and would like to add my own perception. Senthil a good and trusted friend of mine and a very learned person seem to be thinking that Modi’s development would mean making India like America. India cannot be Americanized and American cannot be indianized. Development will have aspects of industralization,urbanization, modernization, westernization and et al. These are processes which cannot be stopped. The clock cannot be turned back. But a human face can be given checks and brakes must be put in place.
The world is global and seamless. What takes place in one continent will have its impact on the other countries. We cannot built water tight compartments and have Khapps-instead of a justice system. For example we cannot hold on to the caste system; then a cobbler’s son must become a cobbler-a sanitary worker’s son must become a sanitary worker and so forth. Where is the individual choice? So our political netas will continue to be scamsters! Opportunities must be provided for people to opt out and to follow one’s choice. To say that this is a breakdown of the Indian system and its age old order is wrong.
Westernization has a core of dominance. It is arrogant and will impart a kind of a superiority/inferiority mindset. West is west and East is east the twain can never meet. So when one talks of development one must be careful not to mix it up with westernization. It claims the ‘white’ superiority. Dominance and protectionism are aspects of Westernization. All development is not westernization. There may be aspects of development of the westernization which does out reach. This is because of the mass media. Basically it is the transmission and reception of European ideas and life styles and technology. Now life styles and ideas are disseminated through the mass media. Today with the Information Technology it is wide spread and faster. We cannot help it.There will be overlapping.

Education is a basic prerequisite no matter whether one is westernized or not.But what sort of education is a big question. A western education is ruthless.It is meant to make profit and has no value system.It helps people to manipulate others, Thus we have the B.Com, Financial Management,Banking ,Business Management etc. It is meant to cater to a market and hence has profit making at end all and be all of it gambit. Where is the value system in these? All educated do not open out to modernity. One can be traditional with education. But it is the aspiration of people to be educated and informed. And this leads them to demand more and more of their individual choices. This is their right. Should we stop educating people? Educating people is instilling in them a self worth and releasing their potentiality .Helping them to be what they want to be simply because it suited us to have scavengers and barbers at our beck and call, because it was subservient and we called it ‘orderly’. Destroy that ‘order’ which is going to keep a few people traditionally as bonded slaves. Let there be a churning of the ocean of people. Out of this churning will arise the pot of ‘amirtham’.It may be difficult for some who have been at the top of a hierarchy but what about others?
We cannot put all these ‘izations’ in water tight compartments. They do overlap. One can be modern without westernization. Can we prevent roads and transport from urbanizing the rural areas. Can we say that wearing a shirt is modernity?Can we keep the tribals naked to be allowed to be watched by tourists.By making the tribal modern will mean clothing them providing them houses also.Is this against development? Then what about modern medicines and surgeries? Can these be only for those who can fly out of the country at the taxpayers’ monies and become recipients of the fast advances in scientific health system?
One must make a distinction between ruthless development and westernization. Destruction of one’s own natural resources, unplanned development and holding back a process is simply not development. That’s exactly where Modi fits in. He has the vision to retain that which is ‘indian’ the ‘mariyatha ‘-the respect and value system of our ancients but at the same time calls for modernity.
Modernity is not just development but development with a scientific temper. To discard all that is development is wrong and not possible. One cannot throw out the baby with the bath water.A judicious development-education,a people’s oriented health system,roads and transport to make life easier and areas accessible.These need to come under development.Not a brutalization of the natural resources-not a bull dozing of the value system. I would cite the examples of Rajaji,Kamarajar,Annadurai-these men had great vision.They were not westernized but were modern in their outlook and vision.They wanted development for their people.
I have watched and learned from Gujarat that of all the people in quite a few States the Gujaratis are not only prosperous and hardworking but cling on to their way of life-very close knit and retain their ‘parampara’.All rites and rituals are followed-all elders are respected, there is a wholesomeness in their development. There will be a few exceptions and aberrations. But this is the price one can give to wholesome and whole people’s development.
There is certainly a need to draw a line between modernity and development. One can development without being modern-but one cannot be modern without having aspects of development. This brings me to the language issue –learning and knowing English is not destructive. Yet I would agree with Sentil that English was the queen’s language. It was westernized. It had dominance and it had a purpose- namely to enslave the colonies –to make the colonial people subservient and perform the tasks for the imperialists. The English wanted clerks and accountants so they trained them to such. They did not build roads and dams and irrigation canals.
Yet one must agree that today It enables one to understand one’s mother tongue better and appreciate it. English is global and links people and countries. English is not destructive. It is those who learn the language who become destructive. The language is only an enabling vehicle to encompass others to extend one’s arms and to embrace others in the knowledge of their mother tongue. One cannot be closed. An open mind is god given. To realize god within and to see god in others –to accept them as one’s own is part of modernity. This cannot come from a closed mind or a CCTV.I used to point out to my students the beauty of the vernacular. For example there is only one word Love’ in Enlglish to denote the feelings between all people irrespective of relationship and stature But in Tamil one will denote the relationship and accordingly love becomes pasam,naysom kathal anbu etc.Similarly also everyone becomes an aunt and uncle But in the vernacular the relationship is notified! So it is sithy,athai,periyamma, maam etc.This did not mean that because I was fluent in English it destroyed my love and appreciation for the vernacular. On the other hand it enhanced my understanding of relationships and LOVE.
Similarly to appreciate development does not mean to decry Americanization(Look at its fast justice system for one-here 29 years and still is justice is evading) It has its positive aspects. What is essential is an openness to accept that which is healthy, good and humane. In a world which is shrinking and becoming a village one must go forth with open arms.Any development that is good must realize the god within oneself and recognize the god that is within one’s neighbor. When one sits down look at the person opposite and recognize the god and the inner resources of that person and be able to embrace him/her in peace and say Om Shanti,Om Shanti.
That is what is all about Development and I find Modi a fit person to usher in this kind of development. This is written not to score brownie points neither am I keen to have a debate and discussion of all the processes of development. Some may be good some may be bad-some may be dangerous. But Hinduism is the only religion which was not born and breed in bloodshed. The Hindu people embraced all who came into India persecuted and driven away from their respective homelands. It is the greatness and the Hindutuva of the Hindus which enabled them to accept these people. Thus India became the cradle of all world religions. This is true development and into such a development I am sure Modi will be able to lead us-Om Shanti.
Dr Mrs Hilda Raja,
Vadodara,Gujarat

Myopic Chidambaram
‘Gujarat model flawed, Modi divisive’ says Chidambaram. Instead of making such generalizations why has Chidambaram not unfolded the unflawed model of his party’s? Oh yes he calls it inclusive development. Can the Congress point out one of the States in which it is in power and show case the growth of this inclusive development? Then fault Modi’s model. Not one of the UPA ruled States are doing better than Gujarat-that is Modi’s model and yet the Congress and Chidambaram wants to pick holes.
The fact is everything and anything that Modi does is wrong. According to Chidambaram the Modi model does not believe in ‘inclusive growth’. I am no economist -I do understand what inclusive growth is but I fail to comprehend why this inclusive growth has shown no growth at all. Modi’s model has left large sections of the people of Gujarat behind continues Chidambaram. For a Finance minister he is talking in generalities. By the large sections of people he means Muslims I suppose. But is it not a fact that the Muslims in Gujarat are better off than the Muslims in other States? What is this model which Chidambaram has in mind? Is it an imagery, a mirage-a deception of his own vision? Tell us and the nation clearly and show us a model which the Congress has proved growth and inclusiveness.
This inclusiveness which the Congress is bandying is just another Minority appeasement policy. Has it succeeded? Words are not proof-show the nation its success. Why are the Congress ruled States lagging behind in growth and in development? Chidambaram continues that a model that may have worked in Gujarat over a period of few years may not be the model that will work for the whole of the country. This coming from the mouth of a Finance minister is laughable. He uses the word ‘may’ which itself shows that he is not certain. Let Chidambaram talk with certainty. If this model may not work then which model will work? Any model replicated will take a few years and will under go changes depending on the local resources-needs and environment. This is understandable. It is not as though a replication calls for fitting the exact blueprint or superimposing a blueprint of one State’s on another State. There are variations and other parameters which must and will be taken into account.
What makes me wonder is what are the reality models which the Congress has followed-First of all the Congress has no governance but its members are involved in scams. Second-if it follows any sort of governance at all no models clicked. Hence it has no face to fault Modi.Look at the state of the economy, take any development indicators and see where the States ruled by the Congress stand.
One can cite one singular case to show cause the complete failure of the Congress which has ruled the longest in the country.-and that is the Food Security Bill. What have we got- the economy in shambles, inflation highest, poverty groups are become poorer and the rich are becoming richer. The fact that Food Security the flag ship of Mrs Sonia Gandhi has been initiated speaks volumes. By this Bill what is shown is that that 67percent of the population are beggars and need to be fed by free(almost free) rations- This is like the soup kitchens that are opened for the destitutes in other countries. So this is the kind of inclusive development model which the Congress had operated all these years. Not only it has reduced the population to beggary and instilled a beggar mentality but has sapped the energy for a vigorous economic development. There by cultivating a dependence syndrome. And Chidambaram and his party fault Modi’s development.
Why has Modi been pointed as ‘divisive’ by Chidambaram.He is not the sole Congress leader who has stated this? All the Congress leaders starting from the top right down have been directly and indirectly stating this? In all honesty (honesty is something which the Congress men and women do not have)it is the party which is the mother head of communalism and divisive politics. It has segmented the people on the basis of creed and caste and built fences and ghettos. Even an appointment to a post the caste is brought into the picture. Religion plays havoc with all the minority appeasement in full play. If this is not divisive then what is divisiveness?
Right from the inception, the Congress party has abetted communalism-as though it this is not enough it has made the country more backward on the basis of caste and creed and this is its ‘inclusive’ development. For example because of its abetment of caste and communalism more and more sections of the population have become ‘backward. So we have Backward Castes, Most Backward Caste, Other Backward Castes and Extremely Backward Caste.The majority in the nation are backward by this yardstick. It is the Congress’ achievement that after ruling for 57 years the country is in reverse gear be it economically, socially and politically. We are all Backward oriented .We have the Congress showing scant respect for democracy and democratic institutions. And the destruction of even the spirit of democracy with dual power centres- and above all power with unaccountability. Where is the relevance of a High Command in a democracy? This is a complete negation of democratic values and democracy. To sneeze also one must get the permission of the High Command!
So where is the question of discussion and debate and dissent within the Congress party? A truly democratic party will have all this and not allow power to rest in a High Command. Yet Chidambaram gleefully says he sees for the first time a lot of rebellion in the BJP.It is surely strange to a person like Chidambaram and the Congress because they are straitjacketed and are all ‘yes’ men and women. And there is only one opinion and one perception. Different views are not welcomed in the party. Only Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi can utter sense and nonsense and get away with it. Of course Sonia Gandhi has no incisive perception of development. She is more a draft reader. She is like the Roman Catholic Church to which she belongs-which is patronizing-almsgiving and keeping the status quo. It is in this background that one must read what Chidambaram stated. When the Congress party has no democratic values but is a dynasty and believes in divine right to rule then the rest must be pushed under the carpet. It is this belief that makes them all see Modi as a threat. For to have a vibrant democracy the Congress and its top echelons with be shaken. The scamesters and the corrupt will be made accountable. But if it believes in power without accountability-extra constitutional power centre then what kind for a country and development does it envisage? Are we not a banana republic?
This is not ‘myth making’ though Chidambaram says that the reports claiming 15000 Gujaratis rescued by Modi is a myth. He must find out who produced the myth. Is there any statement by Modi or his ministers that 15000 Gujaratis were rescued in Uttarakhand? Being in a position to unearth Chidambaram should have found who the myth makers were. It is cheap politics that the Congress is indulging in. Even granted that just 1500 were rescued the fact was that Modi was a man of action and sprung to act. But where was the youth icon Rahul Gandhi -he has completed 43 and going on 44 but projected as the youth icon. He secretively leaves the country to celebrate his b’day in Europe. Last year it was in UK. After all it is his business what he does with himself-Where he goes to celebrate his birthdays.But when he is projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate it makes all the difference. He who goes around during election campaigns calling himself a rural man-the rich poor man who peeps into Kalavati’s hut and share rotis with her must celebrate his b’day in Europe. But then why the secrecy? He who has a three layer of security at the people’s cost must be accountable to the people.
What if Modi had done this? What if Uttarakhand was ruled by the BJP.There would have been acrimonious accusations against the CM.Disasters do occur-but the natural disaster was aggravated by the utter disregard for the ecosystem in the Himalayan region and in Uttarakhand State.Rahul Gandhi after his birthday bash in Europe comes ‘quietly’ and leaves ‘quietly’ saying that everything will be done.This is praised by Digvijyay Singh .It is a fortnight and yet relief materials have yet to reach villages. Where is Rahul Gandhi’s plan of action? Modi is a man of action who can immediately respond to a situation/emergency. So he was the first to rush to the rescue of the disaster hit State. But it was sheer arrogance of the Congress and jealousy that made the Home Minister issue a statement banning VVIPs movement in Uttarkhand. What was the reason? After the issue of such a statement Rahul Gandhi makes a visit. Why this exception? A country is a nation –be it Modi or someone else help must be accepted from whomever offers. The Congress is simply blinded by its hatred and fear of Modi.This is why the Minister for culture –Chandresh Kumar Katoch said that ‘outside help’ was not required to restore Uttarakhand’s 11th century Kedarnath temple that was damaged in last month’s flash floods and landslides. Is it not arrogance?
What is the Congress afraid of? After all anyone citizen in India can contest an election and can aspire to become the Prime Minister. It is for the Congress to utilize all its ill-gotten wealth-use the rich and the corrupt and defeat Modi at the polls. But why this hatred and why this stabbing behind the back? Modi is one who can stand up and question.
I personally find that if one has deep patriotism to the country –the rest will follow suit.I fail to understand why and how Mrs Sonia Gandhi who has no problem to break bread with SIMI and Rahul Gandhi who was ready to become an advocate for LeT cannot tolerate Modi. Patriotism for India naturally runs in people who are born of Indian parents. They love their country. One cannot expect it from others. Is the Congress afraid of Modi because it sees him a threat to its power-But then that’s all about democracy? There is no Divine Right for the Gandhis and the Gandhis alone to rule this nation. A dynasty regime is a contradiction to democracy. No patriotic person will accept this.
Dr Mrs Hilda Raja,
Vadodara,Gujarat